re: Are the Vikings a Playoff Team?

Ziggy Ansah and DeAndre Levy say, 'Hey!'

Ziggy has 15.5 career sacks, and a peak of 7.5, despite playing next to Suh and Fairley, who on off plays, occupied only 3 blockers between them.

Levy generated a whopping 2.5 from his position.

I still think Ziggy is their best pass rusher, but if he surpasses that 7.5 number, it'll be a very good thing for the Lions.

The first 8 weeks last year, with a healthy Suh and Fairley, they were the league leaders in DVOA. Without a healthy Fairley, they were 23rd in pass defense, and dropped from 1st to 17th in DVOA overall.

Other things that point to strong Lions regression-- a 6-1 record in close games is unsustainable long term, though there's no reason to expect them drop all the way to the polar opposite, either. They outperformed their scoring to points allowed ratio, depending on the metric you prefer to measure, by about 2-3 games.

Best case, that offense stays healthy and Ebron pushes them to a high level of production, and they get into a lot of shootout games with a great quarterback for that style of game. Worst case, Ansah gets the doubles, and nobody gets much pressure up front, and that back end gets toasted like it did from week 9 on last year.

It'll be a long year for the Lions.

You think Austin Davis is their Qb?

And quoting Ansah's career sacks? Lol. A 2 year player? Really?

quote:

---

You think Austin Davis is their Qb?

And quoting Ansah's career sacks? Lol. A 2 year player? Really?

---

I did forget the move to Nick Foles. The Rams are definitely a team with a huge upside, assuming Foles stays healthy.

And yes, when you play your entire career beside Suh, if you haven't emerged in 2 seasons at a level higher than that, its going to cause a lot of doubt about how you handle being The Guy That Gets Doubled on passing downs.

Levy is a beast, as a tackler. He's a great sideline to sideline linebacker, and is a great option, if they can keep him clean. I have yet to see him pressure the passer in Detroit-- maybe he can. They desperately need it, and more to not fall backward significantly.

That said, the sample size they've provided without their amazing interior DL does not bode well for them, at all. I thought the Lions would at least try to upgrade the secondary a little, after the last half of last year, but their lack of moves there has to be a little perplexing.

And DVOA has a place. It isn't the only thing, but it does provide context. When you go from being very good at a thing, to very, very bad at it -- particularly pass defense-- you should pay attention to a thing like DVOA.

quote:

---

Stafford is the Lions problem really.. just my opinion.

---

I think if any season will turn your opinion on Stafford, it'll be this one.

If they're going to be a .500 football team, he's going to have to have a *monster* year.

That defense though....yeah. I'd have more confidence if it was Green Bay and Denver and Pittsburgh and New England that was ripping them apart week in and week out-- and while they did get dinged once by a big Brady game, they also let Bridgewater throw for 300 on 75% completions, and Jimmy Claussen and Cutler throw for 460 on about 70% completions and 4 scores in two games against a Bears team in free-fall; mighty Drew Stanton-- 300+ yards, 2 scores, 65% completions-- even Cade McNown and the Yuccaneers threw for 250 and 2 scores.

That has to be profoundly unsettling for Lions fans.

If this is a bad year for the Lions, do you blow it all up and go for a new Franchise QB?

(no message)

quote:

---

Ziggy has 15.5 career sacks, and a peak of 7.5, despite playing next to Suh and Fairley, who on off plays, occupied only 3 blockers between them.

---

Ansah was pretty raw out of college, no reason to think he can't increase that production.

quote:

---

Levy generated a whopping 2.5 from his position.

---

Irrelevant...that wasn't his role in the Lions scheme with Suh. Now that Suh is gone they will move to a more aggressive blitzing scheme and that number will certainly go up...provided he actually sees the field sometime soon.

quote:

---

Other things that point to strong Lions regression-- a 6-1 record in close games is unsustainable long term, though there's no reason to expect them drop all the way to the polar opposite, either. They outperformed their scoring to points allowed ratio, depending on the metric you prefer to measure, by about 2-3 games.

---

The Lions didn't have a kicker until week 6 and lost the Buffalo game as a result...even if that number regresses somewhat, luck goes both ways. Good teams win close games.

Losing Suh hurts...but, Suh also anchored more than a few mediocre/bad defenses. His presence alone wasn't the reason they were near the top all year...Teryl Austin is one of the best DCs in the game and will get the most out of the talent that is returning. They aren't going to fall out of the top 10 on the defensive side of the ball.

Offensively it is make or break for Stafford, Lombardi, you name it...too much talent to be hovering around the back half of the league and Megatron isn't getting younger. If they live up to what they look like on paper it will be a good year.

I could very easily see them being better and more well-rounded than last year, the top end talent on the roster is unquestionable...but due to their schedule fighting for a playoff spot at 10-6. The first five weeks are tough.

Had you waited a little bit longer you could have plagiarized Bill Barnwell again.

(no message)

Possible but the OL can't sustain any more injuries. Really like what Zimmer is doing but I think they are a year away from being very good.